The Best FIFA Women’s Coach: Nominees in focus

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Sonia Bompastor

If there was any doubt as to how Chelsea’s transition from long-serving coach Emma Hayes to Bompastor would go, they were quickly put to bed. In a record-breaking domestic campaign, the French mentor led Chelsea to a remarkable domestic treble. Even at a club used to dominating the English club game, the 2024/25 campaign was astounding as Chelsea claimed the Women’s Super League, Women’s League Cup and Women’s FA Cup titles without losing a single match.

Jonatan Giraldez

Continuing on his impressive work from Barcelona, Giraldez spent a year in America’s National Women’s Soccer League where he oversaw a dramatic improvement in the fortunes of the Washington Spirit. Having led the team to the NWSL Challenge Cup title, the Spaniard also steered the Spirit to a runners-up finish in both the regular and post-season league campaigns before moving to French powerhouse OL Lyonnes in June 2025.

Seb Hines

Having risen through the coaching ranks at Orlando, Hines led the Florida outfit to their finest hour as they claimed a maiden NWSL crown in the 2024 season. Dropping just two matches in the regular season, Orlando then swept aside all comers in the post season to cap off a fine campaign that saw the 37-year-old Englishman named the NWSL Coach of the Year.

Renee Slegers

Despite having played second-fiddle to Chelsea on the domestic front, Arsenal ended the season on a huge high under Slegers as they eased past Barcelona to win the UEFA Women’s Champions League. Having progressed from the qualifying round, a dominant group outing saw the London club win five of their six fixtures before they then saw off Real Madrid, OL Lyonnes and Barcelona in the knockout stage to both claim continental honours and qualify for the maiden edition of the FIFA Women’s Champions Cup under the Dutch tactician.

Sarina Wiegman

One of the most decorated coaches in the history of the women’s game added another record to her glittering career as she became the first coach to win three UEFA Women’s European Championship titles. The first of those came with her native Netherlands side in 2017 before she backed up England’s win in 2022 with a successful title defence in Switzerland in late July as the Lionesses overcame Spain in dramatic fashion.